1. BACKGROUND:
Proper
handling and disposal of bio-medical waste is very essential. Unfortunately,
laxity and lack of adequate knowledge and practice on bio-medical waste
disposal leads to respectable health and environment apprehension.
Biomedical waste, generated from a number of healthcare units, is imparted
necessary treatment to reduce adverse effects that this waste may pose. Installation
of individual treatment facilitates by small healthcare units requires
comparatively high capital investment. In addition, it requires separate
manpower and infrastructure development for proper operation and maintenance of
treatment systems. A common bio medical waste treatment
facility is used for treatment and disposal of bio medical waste.
2.
INTRODUCTION:
Biomedical
waste management has recently emerged as an issue of major concern not only to
hospitals, nursing home authorities but also to the environment. The
bio-medical wastes generated from health care units depend upon a number of
factors such as waste management methods, type of health care units, occupancy
of healthcare units, specialization of healthcare units, ratio of reusable
items in use, availability of infrastructure and resources etc.(1)
The proper
management of biomedical waste has become a worldwide humanitarian topic today.
Although hazards of poor management of biomedical waste have aroused the
concern world over, especially in the light of its far-reaching effects on
human, health and the environment.(2)
Now it is
a well established fact that there are many adverse and harmful effects to the
environment including human beings which are caused by the “Hospital waste”
generated during the patient care. Hospital waste is a potential health hazard
to the health care workers, public and flora and fauna of the area. The
problems of the waste disposal in the hospitals and other health-care
institutions have become issues of increasing concern. (3)
2.1
Problems relating to biomedical waste:
A major
issue related to current Bio-Medical waste management in many hospitals is that
the implementation of Bio-Waste regulation is unsatisfactory as some hospitals
are disposing of waste in a haphazard, improper and indiscriminate manner. Lack
of segregation practices, results in mixing of hospital wastes with general
waste making the whole waste stream hazardous. Inappropriate segregation
ultimately results in an incorrect method of waste disposal.(4)
Inadequate
Bio-Medical waste management thus will cause environmental pollution,
unpleasant smell, growth and multiplication of vectors like insects, rodents
and worms and may lead to the transmission of diseases likes typhoid, cholera,
hepatitis and AIDS through injuries from syringes and needles contaminated with
human.(5)
2.2 Need
of biomedical waste management in hospitals:
The reasons due to which there is great need
of management of hospitals waste such as:
1.
Injuries from sharps leading to infection to all categories of
hospital personnel and waste handler.
2.
Risk of infection outside hospital for waste handlers and
scavengers and at time general public living in the vicinity of hospitals.
3.
Risk associated with hazardous chemicals, drugs to persons
handling wastes at all levels.
4.
“Disposable” being repacked and sold by unscrupulous elements
without even being washed.
5.
Drugs which have been disposed of, being repacked and sold off
to unsuspecting buyers.
6.
Risk of air, water and soil pollution directly due to waste, or
due to defective incineration emissions and ash.(3)
2.3 Biomedical Waste Management Process:
The
hospital waste like body parts, organs, tissues, blood and body fluids along
with soiled linen, cotton, bandage and plaster casts from infected and
contaminated areas are very essential to be properly collected, segregated,
stored, transported, treated and disposed of in safe manner to prevent hospital acquired infection.
1.
Waste collection
2.
Segregation
3.
Transportation and storage
4.
Treatment & Disposal
5.
Transport to final disposal site
6.
Final disposal
2.4 Biomedical Waste Treatment and Disposal:
Health care waste is a heterogeneous mixture,
which is very difficult to manage as such. But the problem can be simplified
and its dimension reduced considerably if a proper management system is
planned. There are some techniques for the treatment and disposal of biomedical
waste:
1. Incineration
2. Autoclaving
3. Microwave irradiation
3. CONCLUSION:
Medical wastes should be classified according
to their source, typology and risk factors associated with their handling, storage
and ultimate disposal. The segregation of waste at source is the key step and
reduction, reuse and recycling should be considered in proper perspectives. We
need to consider innovative and radical measures to clean up the distressing
picture of lack of civic concern on the part of hospitals and slackness in
government implementation of bare minimum of rules, as waste generation
particularly biomedical waste imposes increasing direct and indirect costs on
society. The challenge before us, therefore, is to scientifically manage
growing quantities of biomedical waste that go beyond past practices. If we
want to protect our environment and health of community we must sensitize
ourselves to this important issue not only in the interest of health managers but
also in the interest of community.
4. RECOMENDATION:
1.
Every hospital should have special boxes to use as dustbin for
bio-medical waste.
2.
Bio-medical waste should not be mixed with other waste of
Municipal Corporation.
3.
Private hospitals should also be allowed to use incinerator,
which is installed, in govt. hospital. For this purpose a specific fee can be
charged from private hospitals.
4.
Special vehicle i.e. bio-medical waste vehicle should be started
to collect waste from private hospitals and private medical clinics and carry
it up to the main incinerator.
5.
Bio-medical waste Management Board can be established in each District.
5. REFERENCES:
1.
Mandal S. K. and Dutta J. , Integrated Bio-Medical Waste
Management Plan for Patna City, Institute of Town Planners, India Journal 6-2:
01-25 (2009).
2.
Singh V. P., Biswas G., and Sharma, J. J., Biomedical
Waste Management – An Emerging Concern in Indian Hospitals
Indian, Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Vol. 1, No. 1.
(2007-12).
3.
Hem Chandra, Hospital Waste an Environmental
Hazard and Its Management, (1999).
4.
CEET: Biomedical Waste Management-Burgeoning issue (2008).
5.
Govt. of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests Gazette
notification No 460 dated July 27,New Delhi: 1998: 10-20.
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